By Colleen Barry, David Crary and Giada Zampano
Vatican City (AP) – Pope Leo XIV, in Notes in 2012, while he was the Augulnian general at the prior of Chicago, made critical comments on what he called the “homosexual lifestyle” and the role of mass media in the promotion of the acceptance of homosexual relations which were conflict with Catholic doctrine.
Reports on the 2012 comments emerged after the election of American Cardinal Robert Prévost Thursday to succeed Pope Francis; He took the name of Leo XIV.
The remarks were “disappointing,” said Francis Debernardo of New Ways Minister, a group based in the United States which pleads for greater inclusion of LGBTQ + Catholics in the Church.
“We pray that in the 13 years that have passed, of which 12 were under the papacy of Pope Francis, that his heart and his mind (Leo) developed more gradually on LGBTQ +issues, and we will take an expected attitude to see if it happened,” said Debernardo in a press release.
A 2012 video provided to Catholic News Service, the news agency of the American conference Bishops, presented the address of Prevost to the World Synod of Bishops in the context of images of television series and popular films.
“Western mass media are extraordinarily effective in promoting the general public, enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are in contradiction with the Gospel, for example abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia,” said Prevost.
He distinguished “how alternative families made up of same -sex partners and their adopted children are portrayed so benign and friendly in television programs and cinema today.”
When he became a cardinal in 2023, Catholic News Service asked him if his views had changed. He recognized Pope Francis’ call to a more inclusive church, saying that Francis “said very clearly that he did not want people to be excluded simply on the basis of the choices they make, whether it be the way of life, the work, the means of dressing or other.”
But he stressed that the doctrine had not changed, in accordance with Francis. “And people have not yet said (that) we are looking for this kind of change,” said Prevost. “But we seek to be more welcoming and more open and to say that all people are welcome in the church.”
In his first remarks as a Pope Thursday evening, Leo spoke of the construction of bridges and the love of God for all.
The Reverend James Martin, an American Jesuit who founded an LGBTQ + ministry for awareness, said that such an invitation to inclusiveness and reception was important and that he considered the choice of “brilliant” prevost cardinals.
“He is humble, reserved, simple, trustworthy. I think he brings a richness of experience not only (from) his long time in Peru by working with the poor, but also to the Vatican,” said Martin. “It is rare to get in touch with someone who is really humble and who does not pretend to be humble. And he is the real deal. And it really cemented my respect for him. He always treated me with great respect, dignity, friendship. He is a man of a few words, and I will say that when he spoke, people listened. ”
Francis, more than any of his predecessors, has gradually transmitted by his actions, his formal statements and his occasional remarks that he wanted the church to be a more welcoming place for LGBTQ +people. However, its papacy ended with the same basic doctrine for LGBTQ + people which it inherited: the Catholic Church has always rejected homosexual marriage and condemned any sexual relations between gay or lesbians as “intrinsically disorderly”.
The LGBTQ plea group based in the United States Glaad called on the new pontiff to “rely on progress” made by its predecessor.
“The Roman Catholic Church is at the threshold of a new chapter full of hope and inclusive. With the leadership of Pope Leo XIV, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions in the world and to embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity and love,” said the president and CEO of Glad, Sarah Kate Ellis, in a statement.
Crary reported to New York. Barry reported Soave, Italy. Nicole Winfield contributed.
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Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
